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Action Girls in webcomics.


  • Aecast has several examples:
    • Itzel - Always direct and to-the-point, and does not shy away from any combat, her past trauma revealed in Chapter 2 notwithstanding. Even though she is only a shield mage, she has shown numerous times to take point and put herself into harm's way to stop a threat.
    • Paige - Shown killing a lot of the Shenmal that attack the team. When it gets brought up, she simply states she's "just doing her job!"
  • 180 Angel: All angels are taught to fight as soon as they enter school, and Chloe is exceptionally good at it: even catching the attention of Uriel, an Archangel. After she graduates, she is assigned to become a guardian, being the youngest ever even considered for the role.
  • Akuma's Comics is a fighting Sprite Comic, so there are plenty of female characters who fit this trope. The most prominent is Kari, who's The Rival to Blood Knight Akuma and one of a few characters who can keep up with him.
  • Aisopos offers us three examples:
    • Bri, who spent her teenage years training under Lady Sappho and became a skilled fighter.
    • Sappho, who is the leader of an action pack girl squad and taught Bri everything she needed to know.
    • Sappho's guardians, who are skilled warriors.
  • Commander Vorador Mortanius and the mercenary Hawkeyes in Art of Domination are definitely capable of holding their own in a battle.
  • Philippa Twentysuns of Astral Aves is a pure swordfighter able to hold her own in a magic-dominated setting. More generally, the other knights of Sol Solaris.
  • Una Pennrose and Charlotte Burns of Avania can hold their own in a brawl just as well as their male crewmates.
  • Silver, the main character of Ball and Chain starts the story as a very capable gladiator.
  • Ally, Sheila and Reece from At Arm's Length are sorcerer adventurers. Several other recurring female characters are fighters as well.
  • Breaker, protagonist of Break, is a Hot-Blooded Fiery Redhead on a quest to prove herself the best fighter in the world, and is a highly skilled martial artist.
  • Bound Adventures: Lady Livia Barlow is the bodyguard to Princess Irina, and saves her from danger quite a few times.
  • Kid Katydid of The Bug Pond. She, along with her sidekick, Tate are the sole defenders of the bug pond from predators. In one story, she fought off a Blue Jay largely on her own.
  • The title character of The Challenges of Zona. She and her sister Tula have been known to form a warrior/priestess-mage Lovely Angels duo.
  • Plenty of them in Chrysalis:
    • Garnet beats a manticore on her own. Well, with a little of Quicksilver help.
    • Violet was facing the same manticore before. It didn't go well, but she isn't as experienced as other characters
    • Lacey gave the manticore a taste of bazooka whoopass in a previous encounter, forcing it to flee.
  • Helne and Rhel from the webcomic Cindersong . Rhel in particular is better at the action part of an entrance.
  • City of Somnus has Tusura, a Martial Arts Staff wielding lass who lectures on magic and breaks zombie heads with equal professionalism. She also has punched a Feyn (who was making flirty remarks). The Protagonist, Odette, is inexperienced in both magic and fights, but still tends to try and protect people, in part because she's a head taller than an average Majestanian. And she tries to learn as much as che can from Tusura.
  • Though she spends much of the comic as more of an Action Survivor, Nin Wah from Commander Kitty finally gets to turn the tables on the Tagged in all out combat, launching herself into this role.
  • The Continentals' gender bending adventress Lady Fiona Fiziwigg. This men's suited, top hatted, two fisted, gun wielding, say and do as I damned well please agent in her majesty's service is more distressing damsel then damsel in distress as she investigates a series of brutal "mangling" murders uncovers a tangled web of intrigue, adventure and murder with her Continental Operative partner Jeffrey Tiffen Smythe in Victorian England. Find it here.
  • Contrasts: Barriss and Ahsoka, both female Jedi who are good with their lighsabers, fighting battles in the Clone Wars.
  • In Crimson Knights both Farryn and Erikr members of the Order of the Black Rose.
  • In Cucumber Quest, Cucumber's little sister Almond takes swordplay lessons and eagerly volunteers to go on the quest in his place. She later pulls off a Big Damn Heroes moment to save Cucumber.
  • The Cyantian Chronicles: Silver and Celina best embody this trope. Quinn will, once she does more than spar with family and friends. Chatin, Cilke and a few others cover this trope to a (very slightly) lesser degree.
    • It helps that the majority of cyantians have some kind of combat training. Especially the members of the Akaelae family and the Mounty royal family. Which makes sense given the need to protect themselves.
  • Madison Wynter from Danger Zone One is a skilled hand-to-hand fighter and extremely proficient with a firearm (she won the annual Pallad City marksmanship pistol competition two years in a row). It's been alluded to that Madison was once a member of the Death Widow PMC (private military contractor).
  • Amy Fang, the Perky Goth heroine of Dead Metaphor has demonstrated Action Girl capabilities while fighting zombies hand-to-hand.
  • Nonami Mumei from Dr. Nonami can frequently be found battling robots, mad scientists, and other villains.
  • Elf Blood, being an action webcomic with a majority female cast, would be positively weird without its share of Action Girls. Of note are two of the Incarnum characters: Shanna, a tomboyish brawler; and Carlita, an elegant superspy.
  • All the female main characters in El Goonish Shive (and some of the guys), except for Sarah
    • Grace's fighting prowess is displayed when she defeats Damien.
    • Nanase's first appearance involves kicking Elliot's ass in a sparring match.
    • Ellen inherited Elliot's fighting prowess and penchant for fighting.
    • Susan's is not as much of a fighter as, say, Grace or Nanase, but she's the only member of the main cast who's at all proficient with a weapon.
    • Elliot's Super Gender-Bender form makes him this.
  • Virtually every female character in Errant Story qualifies, though special consideration goes to Sara, the resident warrior-monk. Time-mage warrior-monk.
  • The protagonist of Ever Blue, Luna, is a Badass Bookworm who, upon getting assaulted in her own home, never hesitates to blind the assailant with a sheet and brain him with a pipe. Also, she's decided to learn swordfighting at six - and succeeded.
  • Asuka of Everyday Abnormal introduces herself by killing six or seven Yakuza soldiers while barely breaking a sweat (although she nearly loses her eye). In her second appearance, she wins a fight with "The best hand-to-hand fighter on Earth" in a couple of seconds.
  • Jane Mighty (formerly Iron Jane) from Everyday Heroes. She introduced herself to her future husband by kicking him in the head.
  • The title character of Evon: An Action Survivor when first introduced, she progresses from taking out the odd mook, to holding her own, solo, against a Terrible Trio of Cabal agents assembled to take her and Hero on.
  • Kelu of Far to the North, in spades. In the first ten pages she manages to defeat a fully-grown dragon with her BARE HANDS. Later, after a goblin nearly shoots her nephew she marches up a mountain without a coat to give it back the arrow and YELL AT IT.
  • Rhea, by far the most physically imposing human character in Forming.
  • Saki in Frivolesque is able to defeat tons of armed goons without breaking a sweat. Gaia does boxing and MMA in her free time. Both of them stand out in a world of mostly normal people.
  • The story of Furry Fight Chronicles focuses on female pro-wrestling. The Combagals in the comic are female professional fighters and the face of furry fighting.
  • Radical, in Gaming Guardians. Her shapeshifting Evil Twin, Ultima starts out as a Dark Action Girl, but (unusually for the trope) does a Heel–Face Turn later — after having put Radical through seven kinds of hell (including fathering Radical's child while disguised as Randarch, and then causing her miscarriage).
  • The Girl from the webcomic A Girl and Her Fed. She's one of the best in the world at Judo, and will use it when necessary.
  • Zeetha from Girl Genius is a warrior woman from a hidden, jungle city which might possibly have a matriarchal society (this is speculation). She appears to be a stronger warrior than any of the humans in the comic, although she is beaten in combat by the superhuman Baron Wulfenbach.
    • There's also that Baron Wulfenbach is perhaps the most badass individual on that planet. Really, losing to him is no shame for anyone.
      • That, and Word of God has confirmed he spent a few years amongst her people and is her father, though neither has realized that last bit.
    • The title character is a proficient in making and using death rays and can hold her ground with a sword, but lacks the physique of a real action girl. Fortunately, Zeetha's working on fixing that.
  • The God of High School has several of these, with the most prominent being deuteragonist Yu Mi-Ra, a swordswoman who grows strong enough to cleave through entire mountains and skyscrapers of the course of the story.
  • Edith from Godslave becomes an Action Girl when Anpu gives her superpowers. She now packs Megaton Punch, is nigh-impossible to kill and has became an Instant Expert at using khopesh (Egyptian sword).
  • Both Shanti and Sekhmet, the main characters from the webcomic The Green-Eyed Sniper, are powerful combatants. Shanti is a very good martial artist, although she excels as a sniper. Sekhmet is nearly unstoppable in melee and regular hand-to-hand combat.
  • Guilded Age: Frigg is all about weapons when she can get them, and punching when she can't. To the point that she's gained the attention (patronage?) of local war deities.
  • Chen-Chen in Harkovast has martial art skills that allow her to block swords (with her bare arms!) and smash skulls (with her bare fists!)
  • Ruana in GunKitty is a power armor suited, foul mouthed, gun touting sexual deviant that pretty much embodies every action movie hero trope in one lead character.
  • Homestuck: Rose Lalonde, Jade Harley, Kanaya Maryam, Terezi Pyrope, Aradia Megido, Nepeta Leijon, Vriska Serket, PM, Mom, Nanna, The Black Queen and Snowman, and others. Because Sburb entails battling for survival, all female characters are usually this by necessity or prior experience.
  • In I'm the Grim Reaper, Scarlet is one. She's a grim reaper who knows how to swing her scythe, however, she is still a new reaper and lacks experience, which is shown on occasion.
  • Punchgirl of The Incredible and Awe-Inspiring Serial Adventures of the Amazing Plasma-Man.
  • The T-Girls of Jet Dream, all former male Badasses turned Action Girls.
  • Most female characters of Juathuur are either this or Dark Action Girl. And Never Mess with Granny.
  • In Kidd Commander, Phineas Kidd won't let anyone keep her from going her way, and will fight to reach her goal and protect her friends, but she doesn't approve useless cruelty.
  • By Book 4 of Kill Six Billion Demons, Allison has become a muscular supernatural martial artist bordering on One-Woman Army against lesser opponents, and can draw on the MacGuffin stuck on her forehead to perform energy attacks and to survive otherwise fatal hits. Of course, being Allison, she still manages to find situations where her skills and powers are not enough and rush straight into them.
  • Magick Chicks is set at Artemis Academy, which is an all All Girl School for monster hunters in training. As such, all but a few of the named female cast are some manner of combat specialists, espers, Ninja, or magick cadets.
  • Jessica Queen of Mayonaka Densha is a sword wielding Lady of War who also happens to be a Classy Cat-Burglar on the side.
  • Pirogeth from MegaTokyo, Piro's character online/real life in some of the subcomics fits this role pretty well
  • Miss Melee, the star of Miss Melee is a martial arts superheroine.
  • Adrestia from morphE. Physically strong and ready to change her arm into that of a grizzly to kick more ass.
  • Emai in Nightmare Factory is a body manipulator, and she knows how to use those abilities. She even rips Phirre’s heart out of his chest at a point.
  • NIMONA is a shapeshifter who can take on several opponents at once.
  • The Noordegraaf Files
    • The foremost example is co — lead Katrina, who wields a crossbow, knows how to use it, and also can pack a serious kick with her steel — toed army boots.
    • Akila, Katrina's best friend (and possible lover), would also count, given her prowess with a javelin. She hasn't fought any in the comic, but she's stated to be a quite competent fighter.
    • Violet, Katrina's rival, is a wiry, tall Cambodian girl who's susceptible to flying into a berzerk rage, and shredding people to ribbons with her sword. Most people are smart enough not to piss her off.
    • Edythe, the comic's resident arms dealer. Given how arms dealing isn't a very common profession for women, people occasionally underestimate her and try to rob her store. It's the last mistake they ever make.
    • Really, given how The Noordegraaf Files tends to be a World of Badass, every female character is either this or some kind of badass Magical Girl.
  • Haley from The Order of the Stick is a high-level chaotic good thief. Her archery is unmatched in the comic. Maybe Vaarsuvius, too.
    • In this comic, she defeats a half dozen guards singlehandedly with a weapon she's not even known to be proficient in, in a very short time span.
    • Miko might have been a stick-up-the-butt Knight Templar, but this is a woman that managed to solo the Order twice, defeated a minimum 15th level, artifact-enhanced cleric and can behead people with her feet.
    • Heck, don't forget Badass Normal / Mama Bear Kazumi. And those poor ninjas thought assassinating a woman who was six-months pregnant would be easy! Also Therkla seems to be one, though we see relatively little of her fighting skill.
    • Likewise, Lien (who's so badass that her paladin mount is a shark).
  • Pacificators are full of Action Girl, the most prominent being the main cast (five of 'em. Yes, you read that right) who are peacekeepers fighting to help bring the world out of the Second Dark Age.
    • Here's an example: In fact, the first time we meet them, Muneca Powell wiped the floor with two bodyguards who were much bigger than her.
  • Kira in Panthera not only is a star athlete at school, but also aced Panthera's battle obstacle course on the first try. Oh, she's a fire-powered tiger that fights against a secret government project with Panthera.
  • Detective Kate McAllister in Paradigm Shift. Having been an athlete in her teens certainly helps. And that’s before she becomes a werewolf.
  • Kova, of The Player's Guide To S.I.S.U., is easily the toughest member of her team — the first time we meet her, she's duelling one of them, and takes him apart almost without suffering injury herself.
  • Princess Princess (2012): Amira wields a sword and dresses in a military uniform while riding on her unicorn to perform heroic deeds. During the main story, she avoids direct fighting, although she's clearly ready to.
  • 'Rasputin Barxotka'':
    • Marlborina is an accomplished fighter and can beat up men twice her size.
    • Tatiana works as Camello's bodyguard and knows how to use assault weapons.
  • ''Realmwalker Has Gunhild, Sif, Ingrid, Freya and Sigrun regularly fighting monsters, handling weapons and performing magic.
  • Melody Meadows from RedSpaceBlues is a space mercenary with a gun though she fights better with he hands.
  • Royal Blue: Most of the women on the Royal Blue are this. Standouts are Acantha, who managed to take out most of a ship full of trained soldiers by herself, and Bel, who managed to pass the army's entrance examination with flying colours as a teenager with no formal training.
  • Rumors of War features both Elysia and Illyra in a seemingly Gun Fu equivalent of the Mysterious Waif. Both have exhibited magical powers that prove useful in close-quarters combat. (Possibly because they're based on Dungeons & Dragons characters.)
  • Runners has an entire One-Gender Race of Green-Skinned Space Babe's who can change into silver-skinned, super strong, Made of Iron Action Girls at whim. Probably engineered. Possibly for evil purposes.
  • In Rusty and Co., the three (male) Monster Adventurers always team up with an Action Girl at some point in each level — five different ones thus, some of whom have returned.
  • While there are several in Schlock Mercenary — Legs, 'Chelle, even Breya fit the bill — Elf takes the cake. Ranging from blowing up a refinery to procto-ing a reality TV host with one of his own cameras.
  • Nearly every single character in Semi-Auto Semla falls into this trope or one of its many sister-tropes. Rather strange, given the comic's open celebration of the Bound and Gagged aspect of old pulp stories.
  • Freija certainly and too a lesser extent Rachel in The Senkari are action girls. Rachel is capable of putting aside her sword, Freija seems to want to be an Action Girl even when there is no Action to be had.
  • Most of the female cast in Sidekicks. Justified since they're superheroes and sidekicks; it's in the job description. Notable examples are Limpid, who has been kicking ass since her introduction, and Lamia after the four year timeskip when she becomes the hero Nightmare.
  • Major Sarah Bronniford (Republic of Quebec) from 6-Commando. She's young, but she's tough. Despite being captured, she remains defiant, and even tries to escape before she's nearly killed by a nuclear explosion.
  • Rachael from Silver Bullet Nights. Despite her diminutive size, she was the one chosen to lead an elite unit of vampires and monsters. When we first meet her, she uses blood magic to call up a demonic spirit to do her bidding. She also calmly dispatches sacrifices with her bare hands...er...claws. Now that's bad ass!
  • Oasis in Sluggy Freelance, though not an especially heroic one (which is to say, she is completely psychotic). May be a Robot Girl or a former Tyke Bomb or a vengeful spirit that possesses random passers-by or more than one.
  • Valjo from Iron Nail Afternoon. She's rugged, muscular and imposing. When first introduced, she's even wearing war paint.
  • The military in Snow By Night includes multiple female heroes; Vivienne is a captain and Jacqueline is her second-in-command. Snow-by-Night herself kicks quite a lot of butt as well.
  • Ada from The Story of Anima proves why you shouldn't hit a lady with glasses. It will end very badly for your face.
  • Any female character in Supernormal Step who has plot relevance is likely to be an Action Girl.
  • Tower of God, set in a world of badass, is full of them. For starters, there are Jahad's Princesses including Endorsi Jahad and Yuri Jahad, the female Rankers, Anaak, Hwaryun, and Serena.
  • Tripp: Proxy, of course. Also somewhat applies to Coco, since the chip in her head gives her awesome fighting skills, but it's not yet clear if she can control it. Let us not forget the Mazons.
  • The title character from Tove is a teenage Tomboy version of this. If that isn't enough, she's also apparently The Chosen One who is destined to save her world from a race of evil and mysterious aliens!
  • In Unit-M, Shield, the Second-In-Command, is an ex-military hard-ass that can project force fields and carries a gun in her purse.
  • The Witch's Throne has the perfect example of one with Reksha, the half-orc half-dwarf that ends up teaching the main characters how to get stronger, after having fought with them and lost.
  • In Twice Blessed the pixie Pella Brightwing is a very dangerous combatant who single-handedly holds her own against multiple very tough enemies.
  • Vampire Cheerleaders: The Paranormal Mystery Squad has its name because they're an all-girl group of cryptid hunters. Hence, the initials: "PMS" which was deliberately chosen by their leader, Stephanie Kane.
  • The eponymous Vattu, who is hot-headed, has no respect for authority, and can hold her own against a muscle-bound giant three times her height.
  • Alchione Valer and Mulgot from Visseria, with Alchione being a hard-headed thug and Mulgot being a more agile spear-user.
  • WapsiSquare has Katherine Gilchrist, who's a former Air Force helicopter pilot and the only survivor from an archaeological dig that was massacred by local insurgents.
  • Alex Rayne of Wright as Rayne becomes one after his mind is put into the body of a teenage girl. There are also straight examples in Sareena Black and Ivy League.
  • Scorpio, Taurus, Aquarius and Sagittarius on the hero side of Zodiac. On the villain side, the female ones are more crafty and seem to prefer to act behind the lines (such as Slaver and Legion), but Nightmare, Basilisk and Razor are straight examples.


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